Scott Frost says he expects Nebraska’s spring game ‘to be sold out for a long time’

LINCOLN — Scott Frost and his coaching staff won’t negatively recruit or talk poorly about another school. But the Huskers will show recruits pictures of other spring games compared to what a sold-out Memorial Stadium looks like.

“There’s ones with 200, 300 people in their stadiums to watch spring games,” Frost said on “Sports Nightly” on Thursday evening. “I expect ours to be sold out for a long time here. Fans here just love it so much and give us so much support, and it’s great for our recruits to see that.”

The spring game was one of a variety of topics the Nebraska football coach discussed on what was his last appearance on the radio program until August. Other notables from the hourlong conversation:

» The weeklong gap in spring practices for spring break turned out to be a positive, Frost said. Not only did it time out to allow coaches to maximize their recruiting time on the road starting this week, it also gives players a break before summer conditioning starts. The coach added that the Huskers had two of their best workouts immediately following the break.

“I was nervous about it,” Frost said. “I think if you have a mature team that’s going to handle spring break the right way, I think it’s a benefit. And our team did a great job with that.”

» On his quarterbacks in the spring game, Frost said Adrian Martinez “started slow” but “can make a play any time with his talent.” Early enrollee Luke McCaffrey “obviously has some talent,” while Noah Vedral and Andrew Bunch also made plays.

“We’re in a lot better place at quarterback than we were,” Frost said.

» The coach said he was worried about how little privacy he would have upon returning to Nebraska. But those fears have dispersed, he added, and he’s excited to be part of a “Big Red Blitz” with men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg and Athletic Director Bill Moos on May 30 as they visit the flood-affected towns of Norfolk, Fremont and Ashland.

“It’s been awesome,” Frost said. “People come up and they’re so nice. They’re encouraging. It makes me feel great, and I love being around the people.”

» The “cavalry” has yet to arrive in many ways, Frost said. The Huskers will add 20 scholarship players this summer who will “plug a couple more holes.”

» Of all the former teammates Frost saw at the spring game, the one he was most excited to see was cornerback Michael Booker.

» The walk-on program will start showing benefits in the next year or two, Frost said, and will only grow more competitive. The team is limited to 150-160 roster spots now.

Of those walk-ons, Frost said sophomore and Omaha Skutt graduate Trent Hixson would start at a guard spot if NU played a game this week. He would also be one of the first players to be rewarded with a scholarship if any become available.

» Asked by a caller to list his mentors, Frost included some former NFL teammates. He named past New York Jets Vinny Testaverde, Curtis Martin and Wayne Chrebet along with Tampa Bay standouts Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and Warren Sapp. All were professionals on and off the field, he said.

» True freshman Wan’Dale Robinson may see his role this season decided in part by team depth. Frost expects the Kentucky native to play at both wide receiver and running back.

» Safety Marquel Dismuke will likely be competing for a starting safety spot opposite Deontai Williams, Frost said. Dismuke and senior Lamar Jackson are two examples of players who made “really drastic turnarounds” in attitude and are now “models for our entire team to follow.”

» Asked whether he would have been prepared to be Nebraska’s head coach when the job was available before the 2015 season, Frost firmly answered “absolutely.” But in hindsight, he said he thinks some fans would have been split on his coming at that time. Now there’s full support and patience from Husker Nation.

“I think the timing of it ended up being great,” Frost said.

» Coaches are on the road recruiting, with the aim of evaluating prospects they previously identified and persuading them to visit Nebraska. The Huskers have issued at least 15 offers — mostly to 2021 players — in the past week.